All of the historic artifacts at Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt's "summer White House" in Oyster Bay, N.Y., are being packed away in preparation for a three-year, $6.2 million renovation of the mansion. The National Parks Service and other workers have already spent nine months packing books and other smaller items into boxes, cataloging every last knickknack on a spreadsheet. Sagamore Hill, which has roughly 50,000 visitors every year, will officially be closed off to the public on Dec. 5 so movers can come in to do heavy lifting and store more precious art and antiques before renovation begins in the spring. Built in 1885, the three-story home hasn't seen any major renovations in more than 50 years. The electrical, heating, security, and fire-suppression systems will all be updated, while exterior work will include a new roof, foundation waterproofing, and restoration of roughly 78 windows, doors, and porches. A small display of Roosevelt's belongings—including his White House china—will remain on display in another building on the property.
Read it at Associated Press
